REPORT #5 ALTERNATING CURRENT POWER PLANT PROJECT

A power company proposes to build a power station to supply 60 cycle three

phase power. Estimated average daily load curve shown is based on a survey of the
section to be supplied and comparison with similar existing systems. It represents
the power demand that is expected at the time when the plant will be ready to
deliver power. It is estimated that the peak demand will reach 200,000 kilo-watts
within 2 years of the opening of the station and that the shape of the load curve will
not change appreciably.

Type of Plant. There are two possibilities. A steam plant constructed at the
mouth of a coal mine 30 miles from the load center, or a hydroelectric plant may be
built at a place 100 miles away. A certain amount of power, at generator voltage, is
required in the vicinity of the power plant.

Option. Each of the two possibilities has its supporters in engineering

construction companies that are submitting proposed layouts with their respective
bids. (Choose the option in which you are most interested.)

References: Consult Standard Handbook for Electrical Engineers for text material
and additional references.

Kilowatts
160000
140000
120000
100000
Kilowatts
80000
60000
40000
20000
0
0 5 10 15 20 25 30

Y-axis kilowatts, X-axis Time of day

0=12 midnight, 12=12 noon, 24=12 midnight

CHOICE: Hydro-Electric Power Plant

PROBLEM 01

A. General (Chapter II)

1. The assumption has been made, that a steam plant or hydro-plant can be built
to fulfil the requirements of the load given. State briefly the important factors that
must be considered when making a choice between the two types of plants

Answer:

a. Cost of energy at the load center.

b. Continuity of service.
c. Reliability of service.

2. What factors influence the choice of location of a power plant?

Answer:

a. For a steam power plant

i. Accessibility
ii. Coal and ash handling
iii. Water supply
iv. Stability of foundations
v. Facility of extensions
vi. Cost of real estate
vii. Restrictions due to surroundings

b. Hydro-plants
i. Water privileges
ii. Required fall
iii. Water supply
iv. Stability of foundations
v. Facility of extensions
vi. Accessibility

B. Generators (Chapter IV)

1. What type of generator is to be used? (synchronous or induction, horizontal or

vertical). What are the largest sizes of that type available?

Answer:

A hydraulic turbine converts the energy of flowing water into mechanical

energy; a hydroelectric generator converts this mechanical energy into electricity.
 Almost all hydroelectric generators are synchronous alternating-current
machines with stationary armatures and salient-pole rotating field structures.
Salient pole machines are used because the hydraulic turbine operates at low
speeds, requiring a relatively large number of field poles to produce the rated
frequency. A rotor with salient poles is mechanically better suited for low-speed
operation, compared to round rotor machines, which are applied in horizontal axis
high-speed turbo-generators. While the generator may be vertical or horizontal, the
majority of new installations are vertical.
The capacity of hydroelectric generators may range from a fraction of an MVA
to more than 800 MVA. The Three Gorges Dam in Hubei, China, has the world's
largest instantaneous generating capacity (22,500 MW -- 32 700 MW = 22400MW
and 2 50 MW = 100MW).

2. Decide in the generator voltage. Give Reasons.

Answer:

Generally electrical power is generated at lower voltages (generation voltage

will be around 11kV to 33kV) depending on the power output rating of the
generator and transmitted to the load centers by stepping up the generating power
through step-up transformer.

My choice for a generator voltage is around 13.8 KV because it is the

standard generation voltage used in the Philippines. I imagine a low voltage like
11kV is preferred versus a high voltage like 33kV, because less insulation is
required on the windings and the rotating parts may be physically lighter.

3. How is reserve capacity provided?

Answer:

To help ensure consistent availability and reliability of electricity, utilities keep

generation capacity on reserve that can be accessed quickly if there is a disruption
to the power supply. For example, if a base load generator or a major transmission
line delivering imported power goes down, the utility and/or grid operator will
access its reserve capacity to compensate.

Typically, this reserve capacity is created by generators that are already

synchronized with the power grid but are not operating at full capacity. If backup
power is needed, utilities will increase the output of these generators, usually by
increasing the rotation of the turbine (hence spinning reserve). Typically, a 10-
minute response time is a minimum requirement to qualify as spinning, or
operating reserves.
4. Specify the number and kilovolts-ampere ratings of generators to be installed.
Give reasons.

Answer:

The primary difference between kW (kilowatt) and kVA (kilovolt-ampere) is

the power factor. kW is the unit of real power and kVA is a unit of apparent power
(or real power plus re-active power). The power factor, unless it is defined and
known, is therefore an approximate value (typically 0.8), and the kVA value will
always be higher than the value for kW.

Because the estimated peak demand will reach 200 MW, we will divide that
value with 0.8 which is the approximate value of the power factor. The result which
is now in MVA is equal to 250 MVA. The peak demand is just 70% to 80% of the
MVA rating of the plant capacity because we need an additional 20% to 30% to
compensate for reserve capacity.

I choose a 350 MVA plant capacity to compensate for the reserve capacity.
250 MVA divided by 350 MVA is about 71.43% which is an acceptable value for the
70% to 80% peak demand of the plant capacity. 5 synchronous generators of 70
MVA capacity is used for this plant for a total of 350 MVA.

C. Exciters (Chapter V)

1. What system of excitation are you going to use? Why?

Answer:

The function of the excitation system is to supply direct current to the field
winding of the main generator. This current is used to create the rotating magnetic
field necessary for generator action. Control of the current in the field winding must
be accurate, sensitive, and reliable to allow stable and economic operation of the
generator. All excitation systems include an exciter, a voltage regulator, generator
voltage and current transformers, and limiters and protective circuits. The exciter
may be a rotating type that is directly connected to the generator shaft or a modern
static system utilizing solid-state devices fed from a high-voltage bus.

From the excitation power gain point of view, excitation systems could be divided in
following groups:

Independent. Exciter is not connected to the grid thus excitation parameters do

not have direct connection with grid parameters. The part of turbine mechanical
power is used for the excitation.
 Dependent. Exciter utilizes the part of generator power or is connected to the
grid. Accordingly to the excitation source used excitation systems are classified as
following:
a. DC systems
b. AC systems
c. Static systems

We will use the static excitation system for our generators, so this will fall under the
dependent excitation system category.

2. Give the number, type and kilowatt ratings of the exciter units. What is to be the
exciter voltage?

Answer:

The static excitation system is the most commonly used excitation system for
hydro-generators. In static (ST) excitation systems all the elements are stationary.
Such systems directly provide synchronous generator field winding with excitation
current by means of slip rings. Rectifiers in ST systems gain the power from
generator through auxiliary windings or a step-down transformer.
The voltage rating of the exciter will not normally exceed 1000 V as any
higher voltage would require additional insulation of the field winding. For 5 exciter
units, a 250 V exciter is usually use for this type of exciter especially the generators
have the same capacity and type.

3. What provision is to be made for reserve excitation in cases of emergency? Give

details.

Answer:

In such systems, the generator itself is the power source, which means that
the generator is self-excited. As the generator is not able to produce any voltage
without excitation voltage during emergency, the generator must have auxiliary
power source to provide field current and energize the generator. Station batteries
are usually on standby for the purpose of additional power sources and the process
is named field flashing.

4. How are the exciters to be driven? Specify ratings of drivers.

Answer:

Since there are no rotating parts, and in a static system all components are solid
state, theres no need for a driver in static excitation system.
 PROBLEM #02

A. Wiring Diagram and Layout (Chapter VI)

1. Wiring Diagram. Show by single-line diagram, the connections to be used for

the power-plant system (including excitation). (A low-tension busbar is
required.) Indicate the rating of power transformers on this diagram.

H.
T

4 units -
100MVA

13.8

L.
T

G G G G G
 Figure 01. Static excitation system

2. Layout (Appendix I). Make as many floor plan layout s and sectional views of
the plant as will be necessary to show the location and grouping of the prime
movers, generators, exciters, switchboards, oil circuit breakers, transformers,
busses, etc.
FIGURE 3.0 Vertical Francis unit arrangement. (Source: IEEE Standard 1020-1988 (Reaff
1994), IEEE Guide for Control of Hydroelectric Power Plants, 12. Copyright 1988 IEEE. All
rights reserved.)

B. Instrument Transformer for Generator Panel (Chapter VII)

1. Specify the rating of a standard size current transformer to be used in each

generator circuit.

Answer:

Typical specification for a 13.8 kV CT

System voltage: 13.8 kV

Insulation level voltage (ILV): 28KV
Ratio: 1000/5
Core 1: 5 A, protection, 15 VA
Short time rating:20 kA for 1 second
2. Specify the rating of a standard size potential transformer to be used in each
generator circuit.

Answer:

Typical specification for a 13.8 kV VT

System voltage: 13.8 kV

Insulation level voltage (ILV): 28 kV
Number of phases: Three
Vector Group: Y / Y
Ratio: 13.8 kV/ 110 V
Burden: 100 VA
Accuracy: Class 0.5
Voltage Factor: 1.2 continuous and 1.5 for 30 seconds (With provision for fuse)